The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-31

thoughts.
At least so felt Percy Montrose. Re-
served to others. to him Ailia was par
tieularly cold and shy. nothwithstand-
ing she recognized his manly, frank
nature. and knew we'll that to none
other did her soul 90 out as it did to
the handsome impulsive young man.
the sou of her patroness; but she knew
the pride of birth and family which
filled his mothers heart, and so she
resolutely hid her love.
At last the end came. 1t was morn
ing, and Ailia had been playing.
- Wrapt in thoughts which were
sweet, yet sad as the strain whose
cadence yet fingered upon the air,
Percy found her.
1t was an unguarded moment. She
could hide her heart no longer.
And when he had once won from
her the assurance of her love, her pas
sionate italian nature asserted itself,
and as her lover claspsd his arms
around her, with q burst of tears, and
an inarticulate expression OF tender
ness. she laid her head against his
heart, and then, and not till then, did
Percy feel sure of the prize he had
coveted SO earnestly.
But Ailia was not suffered to live
long in her dream of bliss. The proud
lady who had constituted herself her
patroness took matters into her own
hands. What she said Ailia knew not,
All unheeded, the storm of anger
passed over her head, until sentence,
bitterly expressed and scornfully spok-
en-, arrested her attention.
Like . thief YOU stole into my
heuse-wound your tolls around my
boy: he sees it, too, since have open-
ed his eyes. He himself sent me here
to demand his release from this foolish
engagement.
With hated breath Ailia waited un-
til she@lad finished, and then, rising,
she drew her superb form to its full
height, and met the angry light of the
cold English blue eyes with the Italian
dusk of her own.
Your son wishes to be released
from his troth? Is what you have just
said true?'
'.Most certainly, ! am sure you
need not be surprised, Miss Papln,
when you think of the great disparity
there is between your stations in s0-
ciety."
1t was over. Ailia had given back
the ring, the symbol of their attach,
ment, to Mrs. MontrOse.
Alone in her room she battled with
her heart-with its intense longing to
seq Percy once more, and hear from
his own lips that what his mother had
said was untrue
But to her spirit falsehOnd was una
suspected AS it was unknown, and shs
felt that she must never look upon his
face again.
For a long time it was a source of
wonder as to where the talented, beau
tiful young music-teacher had vanish
ed, so suddenly had she gone.
A few years passed. Mrs. Montrose
and her son and daughter were travel
ing abroad. Anxiety for Percy had
engraved deep wrinkles upon his
mother 5 once smooth brow.
He was not the merry impulsive Percy
of old; bis face was grave and pale,
and his friends, as they passed him,
shock their heads.
Long ago, Mrs. Montrose had re-
pented of what she had done-of the
cruel falsehood which had wrecked
her sons happiness, and driven the
Orphan-girl away from her home. But
40 trace of Ailia had she ever found,
and Shs feared TO disclose her treachery
to the son she idnlized,
While in Rome. cards came to their
hotel. inviting them to a grand tete,
which was To celebrate the birthday
of the heiress Of noble family.
All there was in that ancient city of
rank and loveliness We're gathered to
gether in Signorl's Lisbon's salon, AMI
at the end of the long room the host
ess and her daughter awaited their
guests.
The younger lady was turned slight
II away from an approaching group,
among which Mrs. Montrose, dignihed
and stately as ever in her black velvet
anu diamonds, leaned upon her sons
arm.
MARX, Percy" she murmured, ''the
grace which high birth gives to its
children"
The presentation began. An usher
announced:
Mrs. Montrose-AIr. Percy Mont
rose"
The young lady turned, and there,
in that regally beautiful face, Percy
recognized his lost Ailia.
A. day after, with a heavy heart,
Mrs. Montrose bent over the bed
where her son and heir raved in de.
| lirium. The blow she had long dread
ed had fallen; he was dangerously
i'll.
1t was some time before the physi'
clan gave amy hope, and then he said
seriously:
! Your son may recover, madame, Il
he does not have relapse; but | can
see tlrat his mind is troubled: it is
not bodily weakness alone which all,
him."
In her room the naughty woman fell
upon her knees and prayed for hel
sons life. Before the stern messenger
who strips off all disguises, her pride
melted, and she rose with a resolution
to confess all 10 her son.
With as much calm as he could con
troll Psrcy listened, then he turned hi
face away,
He said no reproachful words, bu
the look which flashed into the gloon
of his once so merry eyes warned hi
mother that if she could not undo tn
wrong she herself had done, hence
forth her son would he estranged iron
her forever.
Mrs. Montrose sought and foun,
Ailia in her adopted mothers home
Then, in trembling tones, she pleade'
with the girl she had once seOrned f0
forgiveness for herself and hope fo
her son.
Ailia heard her to the end.
s.Mrs. Montrose, she said, ''whe
you drove me by Your cruel words on
into the cold world, confess that
feeling nearly akin to hate filled m
breast What might have become {
ME I.know not, had not God brough
me kind friend-one who had know
my grandfather in his native land
She took me. crushed and wounded a